Request ID: FOI-4396-2324 Date published: 14 March 2024
You asked
Please share the number of successful fines issued at north Greenwich station between the hours of 6am and 9am for the last 12 months
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-4396-2324
Thank you for your request received on 28 February 2024 asking for information about North Greenwich Station.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
We take fare evasion extremely seriously and our team of revenue inspectors operate across our network day and night, using new technology and intelligence to identify anyone travelling without a ticket. Through continued partnership working with the police and intelligence gathering we will push for the toughest penalties for anyone caught fare evading on our services. Fare evasion takes away vital revenue for us to reinvest into our transport network to keep London moving.
We have strategies in place to tackle fare evasion head on and a commitment to reduce any form of ticketing irregularities. Efforts to tackle fare evasion have been helped by changes to the way we manage our stations, with more staff visible in and around stations including on gate lines. The penalty fare is one of several tools available to minimise this revenue loss and deter individuals from committing fare evasion. Penalty Fare Notices are issued in lieu of initiating a criminal prosecution following fare evasion, in circumstances where the offender is considered not to have deliberately set out to avoid the fare due. Fare evasion is a criminal offence that could lead to a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record.
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to provide you with the information you have requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 31(1)(b) and Section 31(1)(g), which exempt from disclosure information which would, or would be likely to prejudice the apprehension or prosecution of offenders or the exercise of functions for the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with the law.
In this instance the exemption has been applied as providing the information you have asked for - or similar information that people may request in respect of other stations - would highlight where we focus our enforcement activities. To deter the risk of fare evasion it is important we convey that ticket inspections can occur anywhere and at any time so potential evaders are likely to be caught.. Disclosing information which reveals where people are most likely to be caught for fare evasion would be of value to fare evaders and therefore adversely affect our inspection activity and impact on our duties under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act. Whilst we make no suggestion that this is the purpose of your request, when considering FOI requests we must consider disclosure to be to the world at large.
The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance feel that balance lies in favour of withholding the information to ensure that we are able to carry out our inspection activity and to continue to discourage fare evaders from using our network.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
